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Geoff Gerard (politician)
Richard Geoffrey Gerard CMG (4 October 1904 – 26 September 1997) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party, and a cabinet minister. Biography
Gerard was born in Christchurch on 6 October 1904. He received his education at Christ's College and then farmed at Mount Hutt.[1][2] On 1 August 1928, Gerard married Margaret Scott at All Saints' Church, Sumner, and the couple went on to have five children.[2][3] Gerard represented the Canterbury electorates of Mid-Canterbury from 1943 to 1946, and then the Ashburton electorate from 1946 to 1966 when he retired.[4] He was Minister of Marine under Holland and Holyoake (1957, 1961–1963),[5] Minister of Social Security (1957) under Holland and Holyoake,[6] Minister of Lands under Holyoake (1957, 1960–1966),[7] and Minister of Forests under Holyoake (1957, 1960–1966).[7] Outside of Parliament, Gerard was a member of the Nature Conservation Council from 1967 to 1974, and a member of the Lyttelton Harbour Board from 1968 to 1980.[2] In 1953, Gerard was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal.[2] In 1967, he was granted retention of the title The Honourable, in recognition of his term as a member of the Executive Council.[8] He was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, for public services, in the 1981 New Year Honours.[4][9] In 1990, he received the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[2] Gerard died on 26 September 1997,[10] having been predeceased by his wife, Margaret, in 1988.[11] His son Jim followed in his footsteps, representing the Rangiora electorate from 1984.[1] Notes
References Wikimedia Commons has media related to Geoff Gerard (politician).
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